Effect of different levels of supplemental N from urea on intake and utilization of wheat straw by Dohne Merino wethers

(South African J of Animal Science, 2000, 30, Supplement 1: 143-144

Preliminary report on osteochondrosis in cattle in the north-western parts of South Africa

The north-western part of South Africa, in particular, is well known for mineral imbalances. Aphosphorosis, resulting in rickets and osteomalacia, received a lot of attention at the turn of the nineteenth century (1882–1912). This was followed in 1997 by research on Vryburg hepatosis, another area-specific mineral imbalance–related disease in young calves reared on manganese-rich soil derived from the weathering of dolomitic (carbonate) rock formations. In 1982, a totally new syndrome (osteochondrosis) manifested in, amongst others, areas in South Africa where aphosphorosis was rife. Osteochondrosis was also identified in the south-western parts of Namibia as well as southern Botswana and other areas in South Africa. Osteochondrosis has a multifactorial aetiology and this study focused on the role of minerals, particularly phosphorus, in the development of the disease. A significant improvement in the clinical signs in experimental animals and a reduction of osteochondrosis occurred on farms where animals received bioavailable trace minerals and phosphorus as part of a balanced lick. An increase in the occurrence of the disease on farms during severe drought conditions in 2012–2013 prompted researchers to investigate the possible role of chronic metabolic acidosis in the pathogenesis of the disease.http://www.ojvr.org/am2016Paraclinical Science

Feasibility of collecting multiple patient-reported outcome measures alongside the Dutch arthroplasty register

Background: Compliance rates with patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) collected alongside arthroplasty registries vary in the literature. We described the feasibility of a routinely collected set PROMs alongside the Dutch Arthroplasty Register. Methods: The longitudinal Leiden Orthopaedics Outcomes of OsteoArthritis Study is a multicenter (7 hospitals), observational study including patients undergoing total hip or total knee arthroplasty (THA or TKA). A set of PROMs: Short Form-12, EuroQol 5 Dimensions, Hip/Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, Oxford Hip/Knee Score was collected preoperatively and at 6, 12, 24 months, and every 2 years thereafter. Participation rates and response rates were recorded. Results: Between June 2012 and December 2014, 1796 THA and 1636 TKA patients were invited, of whom 1043 THA (58%; mean age 68 years [standard deviation, SD: 10]) and 970 TKA patients (59%; mean age 71 years [SD 9.5]) participated in the study. At 6 months, 35 THA/38 TKA patients were lost to follow-up. Response rates were 90% for THA (898/1000) and 89% for TKA (827/932) participants. At 1 and 2 years, 8 and 18 THA and 17 and 11 TKA patients were lost to follow-up, respectively. The response rates among those eligible were 87% (866/992) and 84% (812/972) for THA and 84% (771/917) and 83% (756/906) for TKA patients, respectively. The 2-year questionnaire was completed by 78.5% of the included THA patients and by 77.9% of the included TKA patients. Conclusions: About 60% of patients undergoing THA or TKA complete PROMs preoperatively, with more than 80% returning follow-up PROMs. To increase the participation rates, more efforts concerning the initial recruitment of patients are needed.Clinical epidemiolog

Voluntary intake of several planted pastures by sheep and an assessment of NDF and IVDOM as possible predictors of intake.

The aim was to study the quality and quantity of pasture selected by sheep on various planted pastures. A further aim was to assess NDF and IVDOM as easy measurable parameters for use in equations to predict intake. Pasture samples were collected using oesophageal-fistulated sheep and from knowledge of the in vitro digestibility of these samples and the total faeces voided as measured with faeces bags, intake was calculated. Pastures observed included ryegrass, cocksfoot, C. dactylon, Smuts finger, triticale, E. curvula, Eragrostis - lucerne combination, lucerne and sainfoin. Nitrogen content of oesophageal samples varied between 2, 3 and 5, 15 NDF between 33 and 65% and IVDOM between 50 and 80%. Intake of grass DOM varied from 24, 4 to 43, 3 g/kg W 0, 75/day for lambs and from 29, 0 to 37, 4 g/kg/W 0, 75/day for mature whethers. DOM intake on the two legumes was generally poor and varied between 13, 7 and 22, 9 g/kg W 0, 75/day. Although some of the variation in voluntary intake is accounted for by the variation in NDF and IVDOM, these two parameters are of limited value as general predictors, but may be used in selection indices.Keywords: digestibility; digitaria eriantha; equation; grasses; in vitro digestibility; intake; ivdom; lambs; legumes; lucerne; neutral detergent fibre; nitrogen; oesophageal fistulas; oesophageal samples; pasture selection; pastures; ryegrass; sheep; smuts finger; south africa; university of pretori

Dormant, tallgrass-prairie forage: influence of ruminal degradable protein on intake by beef cows and fermentation characteristics

Five ruminally and duodenally fistulated Angus × Hereford cows were fed dormant tallgrass-prairie forage ad libitum to monitor intake and fermentation responses associated with providing increasing amounts of supplemental ruminal degradable protein (RDP). The RDP was provided from sodium caseinate and infused intraruminally immediately before feeding forage. Levels of RDP were 0, 180, 360, 540, and 720 g/d. Maximal intake of dormant, tallgrass-prairie forage occurred with provision of 540 g RDP/d. Ruminal dry matter fill declined with increasing level of RDP infusion. Increasing supplmentation of RDP generally improved ruminal fermentation characteristics

Response of pregnant beef cows to undegradable intake protein fed in excess of the degradable intake protein requirement

Two concurrent experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect on performance and forage intake of increasing the supply of undegradable intake protein (UIP) to pregnant beef cows already receiving sufficient degradable intake protein (DIP) to maximize forage intake. Three supplements were fed at .34% BW/day, providing .092% B W/day of DIP (level determined in previous study to maximize forage intake) and .042, .059, and .077% BW/day of UIP (low , moderate, and high UIP, respectively) . In study 1, ad libitum tallgrassprairie forage intake was measured daily from 12/1/93 to 2/10/9 4 using 18 pregnant Angus × Hereford cows. Forage intake steadily increased throughout the study, but did not vary between supplements for the first 6 weeks. However , forage intake was less during the last 4 weeks for cows offered the moderate and high UIP supplements. In study 2, 117 pregnant Angus × Hereford cows grazing dormant bluestem range were used to determine the impact of the supplements on body weight and body condition changes. Level of UIP in the supplement exerted only minimal effects on cumulative or 28-day interval changes in body weight or condition

Leren schrijven met Tekster : een wetenschappelijk beproefde lesmethode voor het basisonderwijs

Om het onderwijs in schrijfvaardigheid op de basisschool te verbeteren is in nauwe samenwerking met docenten de lesmethode Tekster ontwikkeld. Tekster is een strategiegericht lesprogramma voor schrijfvaardigheid voor de hoogste drie leerjaren van het basisonderwijs (groep 6 tot en met 81), waarin leerlingen door een combinatie van modeling, expliciete instructie en scaffolding een systematische aanpak leren voor het schrijven van teksten in verschillende genres. De effectiviteit van Tekster is beproefd in twee grootschalige interventiestudies met 2766 leerlingen en 144 docenten van 52 scholen. In beide studies schreven leerlingen voor en na een reeks van 16 Teksterlessen drie teksten: een beschrij- ving, een verhaal en een overtuigende brief. De eerste interventie duurde 8 weken (2 les- sen per week), de tweede interventie duurde 16 weken (1 les per week) en was uitgebreid met training voor docenten. In beide studies verbeterden de schrijfprestaties van de leerlingen significant na het programma. Dit effect was op een derde meetmoment, twee maanden na de interventie, nog steeds zicht- baar. Het leereffect, generaliserend over de drie tekstgenres, was in de tweede studie (ES = 0.55) sterker dan in de eerste studie (ES = 0.40). Dit onderzoek laat zien dat Tekster een veelbelovende aanpak is om het schrijfonderwijs op de basisschool te verbeteren